Drake University announced today that former U.S. Ambassador to China and longtime Iowa Governor Terry Branstad will conclude his service as the University’s Ambassador-in-Residence. Ambassador Branstad, a distinguished alumnus of the Drake University Law School, has served in the residency role since November 2021. During his tenure, Ambassador Branstad leveraged his decades of public service...
Nominations for the 2026 Iowa Character Awards presented annually by The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University are now open. The Iowa Character Awards honor individuals, organizations, or communities who consistently demonstrate the Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and good citizenship. Since 2005, the organization has recognized more...
Drake University Director of Athletics Brian Hardin has been named a winner of the 2026 NACDA Athletics Director of the Year Award, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics announced on March 16. Hardin is just the second Drake Athletics Director to earn this award, which was first presented in 1999. Hardin joins Sandy Hatfield Clubb,...
Drake University’s Susan Glaspell Writers & Critics Series will host C. Wylie Lenz for a lecture, “The Evolving Zombie in Film and Fiction,” on Tuesday, March 31, at 6 p.m. The event will be held in the Cowles Library Reading Room, is free and open to the public, and will include refreshments. Lenz will explore...
The annual alumni awards recognize outstanding Drake University alumni for their accomplishments and contributions to the Drake community. The Drake University National Alumni Association Board of Directors announced today the 2026 recipients of its annual Alumni Awards. Recipients of this year’s awards include accomplished experts in global media and storytelling, innovative tech founders, and influential...
Drake University’s Zimpleman College of Business today announced the recipients of the 2026 Social Impact Awards for Research and Outreach. These annual awards, valued at $5,000, recognize faculty and staff who model positive societal impact through work that aligns with the College’s “North Star” mission: ensuring business education serves as a force for good. To...
Drake University is excited to announce the 24 hopeful English Bulldogs that will compete in the 47th Annual Beautiful Bulldog Contest. The annual competition is a beloved tradition that kicks off a week-long Drake Relays celebration. This year’s Beautiful Bulldog Contest will take place Sunday, April 19, at the Knapp Center from 2–3 p.m. Doors...
Drake University is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Natalie Bayer as the dean of the College of Arts & Sciences for a one-year term. Bayer, a professor of history and seasoned administrator, will succeed Dean Gesine Gerhard, who is stepping down after eight years at the end of the academic year. During Bayer’s...
All In: Drake’s 24-Hour Giving Challenge scheduled for March 4–5 from noon-to-noon has been postponed due to the passing of Drake University student, Sgt. Declan Coady, who was confirmed to be among the six U.S. service members killed in Kuwait on Sunday. Please join us as we come together as a community to honor the...
We are heartbroken to learn that Declan Coady—a well-loved and highly dedicated Drake University student studying information systems, cybersecurity, and computer science—was confirmed to be among the six U.S. service members killed in Kuwait on Sunday. He has bravely served in the U.S. Army Reserves since 2023 as an Information Technologies Specialist and had an incredibly...